ORLANDO, Fla. — Authorities say a caricature artist at the Universal Orlando Resort tried to kill his manager by stabbing him in the neck with scissors on New Year’s Day.

Detectives said Monday that Frederick Torres was charged with attempted first-degree murder for his attack on Glenn Ferguson at the Islands of Adventure park.

Both artists draw caricatures at Universal’s parks but work for an outside firm.

The owner of the firm told detectives he had fired Torres the day before the attack.

The owner told detectives that Torres told him he was going to kill the firm’s “No. 1 artist,” a reference to Ferguson, in retaliation. Ferguson was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. His condition Monday wasn’t immediately known.